According to a new study by Arval, one of the market leaders in company cars, many electric SUV vehicles should appear on Belgian roads in the short term.
“Seven vehicles in the top 10 are electric SUVs. Taxation is a major driver of electric motor choice, and manufacturers are carefully scrutinizing the wishes of the general public on a global scale, explains Yves Ceurstemont of Arval Consulting. In the last decade, the predilection for SUVs has become evident; that is why the first electric station wagon models, which used to be popular with company car drivers, are only now being produced.”
The plug-in hybrids in the top 10 are also SUVs, even if the driver can only drive 20% of the time in non-electric mode if he wants to limit the costs for the company. The top 10 company cars ordered by Arval in 2022 include Mercedes EQA, VW Golf Benzine, BMW iX3, Audi Q4 e-tron, Volvo XC40 PHEV, KIA EV6, Volvo XC40 BEV, Hyundai Tucson PHEV, the Mercedes EQB and VW’s ID4.
“From a purely scientific point of view, SUVs are generally counterproductive in terms of eco-driving and range, due to their shape, emphasizes Yves Ceurstemont once more. VSIt is also for this reason that the Volkswagen Golf is so popular with those who do not have the option of opting for an electric vehicle. This car offers less air resistance than a comparable SUV, which helps to reduce CO₂ emissions”.